Krejci key to Bruins’ lineup changes

The combinations are not infinite, and Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy will obviously let David Krejci’s fate decide how the dominoes tumble for tonight’s seven healthy scratches in Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden (7:10 p.m., NESN, 98.5).

Krejci’s upper-body injury held him out of the first two games of the series at Ottawa, which the Bruins split. Cassidy’s roster is deep in centermen but not centermen of Krejci’s quality. He led the NHL playoffs in scoring in both 2011 and 2013 when the Bruins reached the finals.

Since then, Krejci hasn’t had Nathan Horton providing explosive speed on his right wing. Jarome Iginla scored 30 goals alongside Krejci during Boston’s 2013-14 Presidents Trophy campaign, and the aging grinder managed five more goals in 12 playoff games. Since then, Krejci was down to Milan Lucic through his injury-riddled 2014-15 season and had a mixture of wingers over these past two seasons inclusive.

It’s been often said that Krejci is no longer the same player, but his injuries notwithstanding the greater difference is the revolving doors on his wings. Entry-level players and band-aid players have come and gone, and he has a budding chemistry with Czech-born, third-year right winger David Pastrnak, who skated as often this season with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Cassidy’s appointment as interim head coach was coincidental with the recall of Slovak-born left winger Peter Cehlarik.

Though the rookie did not light up the scoreboard, his easy chemistry on a newly formed line with Krejci and Pastrnak brought the latter two to life, especially Krejci. Cehlarik hit the wall before long and was re-assigned to Providence (AHL). But, in that short window, it became obvious that Krejci’s still got plenty of game provided the right support.

Cassidy told media assembled at TD Garden this morning that Krejci will skate the pregame warmup, and a decision on him will determine what happens across the board.

There is less definition on the blue line, where morning reports indicate that longtime farmhand Tommy Cross will make his NHL playoff debut.

At various points during the season it had been noted even by former coach Claude Julien how many NHL rookies and other players new to the Bruins had been integrated into the lineup. At a time when teams have gotten past the trade deadline and look to have a defined depth chart, the pace of this integration has only accelerated for the Bruins.

Joe Morrow came in for Game 2, playing for the first time in months, and holding his own. Charlie “Tin Puck” McAvoy showed he could gobble up big minutes alongside Zdeno Chara against NHL playoff competition.

Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo, two regulars in the Bruins’ top four throughout the regular season, are yet to see playoff action. Krug won’t play this series. Carlo may, depending on the length of the series. Colin Miller, knocked out of the lineup by a Mark Borowiecki knee-knee hit, is closing in on a return, but since skating is his strength he will need to be 100 percent before Cassidy will consider putting him back in ahead of players who have been in the lineup.
Meantime, it’s a good thing that Cassidy called upon John-Michael Liles before he was forced to.

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Mick Colageo

Mick Colageo grew up in East Walpole, Mass., skating on Coburn's Pond and at 4 Seasons Arena. He has been writing about hockey since 1986 and covering the Bruins since 1991, is a voting member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and ... Read Full